Dital harp

Dital harp

EDWARD LIGHT

c.1818

(London (Timezone: Europe/London

Description

Body of pine, painted dark blue-black and decorated all over with gold paint. Edge of belly decorated with scrolling gold vine leaves, stylised floral spray and fake sound-hole and surround, with star-shaped rose. The pin-bridge, with ivory-inlaid edge, is positioned diagonally across the body. The neck, or ‘harmonic curve’, is supported by a carved, fluted column, decorated with gold paint. Nineteen gut strings (one missing), head at the back of the neck with steel wrestpins. Fourteen of the strings have ‘ditals’, flat-headed buttons, each with its note pained beside it in gold paint. The dital devices, when depressed by the thumb, grip the strings and raise their pitch by a semi-tone. Small fingerboard with 13 bone frets for the other five strings. Two oval-shaped sound-holes in the back. Oval-shaped base with moulded gilt composition border